The Holligans have built a life here in Northgate “on the best street in Walnut Creek,” says Natalie. “We moved to our street, lovingly nicknamed BOW, 5 years ago. We could not ask for better neighbors…We love it so much, we were able to convince my brother’s family to move next door!” They now have a gate connecting the two backyards so the kids can easily access each other’s homes.
Dan, a Walnut Creek native, and Natalie, who grew up on the peninsula, met at a 4th of July party on Coronado Island. They were both living in San Francisco at the time but visiting different friends in San Diego. When they returned to San Francisco, they had their first official date but always commemorate that first meeting with their own 4th of July party.
They got engaged in the Maldives on Natalie’s 30th birthday. Natalie says, “He gave me a stuffed corgi (a
dog that I always wanted) with the ring attached to a big red bow around his neck. I didn’t see the ring at
first and asked if this meant we could get a puppy!” A year later they were married on Kauai, and she got a corgi too! Dan’s dad officiated the wedding, and this memory has become even more special as Dan’s father passed away unexpectedly this year, and they cherish hearing his voice on their wedding video.
Dan went to Princeton and played on the water polo team. He graduated in 2004 and worked for Thomas
Weisel Partners in San Francisco. The company was acquired by Stifel Financial in 2010, where Dan remains a private wealth advisor.
Natalie graduated from the University of San Diego. After college she started a pet resort with her two brothers called The Pawington. It provides boarding, daycare and grooming for cats and dogs. “I’ve always loved animals,” says Natalie, “I was the kid who would bring home stray kittens and as a teen worked with feral cats.” Later Natalie also opened a Pilates studio. After her second child was born she sold her stake in both businesses to focus on being a stay-at-home mom. But she still gets her pet fix with their corgi Poppy and a teacup Pomeranian named Tini.
Natalie and Dan now have three children. Delilah is 6 and loves swimming, gymnastics and Girl Scouts. She swims for Woodlands Swim Team and was on the County 6 and under relay team. She is a great big sister to her two brothers and is proud of her “superpower of being kind.”
Jack is 4 and in preschool. He says that the best days are the ones he gets to play football or baseball with his dad. Jack and Dan both have December birthdays, so it has become a tradition to throw a huge holiday-double birthday party. This year’s theme was mistletoe and monster trucks.
And Rory is the grand finale, “the sweetest little boy.” He is 9 months old and is fascinated with his siblings. He was born on 5/5/25 at 5:00 pm and is the 5th family member. “So, we hope he likes the number 5 because we foresee it being his lucky number,” adds Natalie.
Natalie volunteers her time as one of the social chairs for Woodlands Swim Team and a room mom in Delilah’s class. She runs the Walnut Creek and Area Moms’ Group on Facebook. This group is where moms can build community, get advice, and share fun happenings in the area. She also loves to cook and won the Woodlands Chili Cook-off this year!
Dan loves music and is in a local band called Lizards of Lounge. He also loves all sports and he makes sure the family attends a 49ers game each year.
The Holligans love to travel and show their children different parts of the world with the goal of inspiring curiosity. They enjoy cruises so they can see many places in one trip. “Dan and I joke that one day when the kids are older, we will be a singing duo on a cruise ship as part of the entertainment. If we don’t get the gig, it’s still a goal to one day do a world cruise.”
A fun tradition is dressing up for Halloween in family themed costumes. They’ve done Batman and Crew, Adams Family, the band KISS, Peter Pan and Cinderella.
Their street has a big Halloween Block Party. This group of neighbors also gets together often for wine tasting, poker nights, birthday parties and impromptu gatherings. Natalie adds, “We didn’t buy our house thinking it would be our
forever home, but we know now that we could never leave because of our wonderful neighbors have become our best friends.”
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991; Photos provided by The Holligan Family